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Valledupar is the capital of the department of Cesar in Eastern Andino and the birthplace of Vallenato music.

Understand

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Known as the “forest city”, Valledupar is considered the greenest city in Colombia. As the birthplace of Vallenato music, the city is representative of a unique part of the Colombian culture.

The city has around 350,000 inhabitants and enjoys year-round sunshine. The average temperature is 30 °C and the driest months are from December to February.

Get in

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By bus

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  • From the north (Cuatro Vias), a collectivo to Valledupar costs COP$20,000 and will drop you at the location of your choice in town.
  • From Bogota, 16-hr bus ride with costs ranging from COP$90,000 to COP$115,000 depending on the season.

From the bus terminal

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Valledupar has different land entrances, and it's crossed by national highway route from south to north.

The easiest way is to take a taxi which will cost around COP$4500. Ask the taxi driver to let you of in the “Centro”, one block away from the "Plaza Alfonso Lopez".

By plane

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It is possible to get to Valledupar by plane to the airport Alfonso López. Only two airlines cover this route: Avianca and LATAM. You are advised to book and reconfirm in high season.

A taxi ride from the airport to the Centro will cost around COP$7000.

Get around

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In the urban area transportation services are provided by taxis and by private bus companies covering the entire city by shared routes. Lately, a new form of transportation has been developing: the informal auto (mototaxi). Local buses depart from the square around the market.

See

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Nabusimake, capital of the Arhuaco Indians
  • Plaza Alfonso Lopez.
  • Indian village of Nabucimake (get a shared taxi to Pueblo Bello (COP$10,000) and then another one to Nabusimake (COP$15,000)).
  • Museo del Acordeón, Cra. 17 #9A-18, +57 300 8368877. 2 tours: 10am and 3pm. Learn all about Valledupar's acclaimed vallenato music. COP$35000.
  • Casa De La Mama De Diomedez Diaz, Carrera 17 (adjacent to Museo del Acordeón). Former home of a vallenato musician (Diomedez Diaz).
  • Callejón De La Purrututú, between Carreras 6 and 7 near Calle 13c (not far from the plaza), +57 300 5906243. Valledupar historical museum.
  • El Cuartico, Cra. 14a #9C - 05. This is like someone's amateur living history museum with a one-room cottage containing old relics. It might be of interest if you are really looking for something to do. COP$5000.

Do

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  • Go for a swim in the river, though be aware that it gets packed on weekends and holidays.
  • Festival de la leyenda Vallenata. Competition of vallenato band taking place in the last week of April. Expect a big crowd.
  • Witness interesting traditions and culture of the Arhuaca people here or in their secluded town of Nabusimake.
  • Enjoy traditional and Spanish colonial architecture. The square, “Alfonso López Pumarejo,” and the traditional and colonial part of Downtown Valledupar still preserve Spanish colonial architecture.
  • Swim and dive in the cool, clean Guatapurí and Badillo rivers
  • Los Besotes ecopark : bird watch and hike in the verdant park.
  • For indigenous crafts, visit the nearby historic village of La Mina.
  • The square, “Alfonso López Pumarejo”.
  • The traditional and colonial part of the centre.
  • Swimming facilities “Hurtado” at the river Guatapurí.
  • The park “Lineal” and the “Village Vallenato”.
  • Natural swimming facilities “La Mina”.
  • The “Badillo” river.
  • The eco park “Los Besotes” and the reserve “Vida Silvestre”.
  • The eco park “Paraver”, known for its protections of the flora and fauna.
  • Visits to all the monuments and parks as: “Los Poporos”, “María Mulata”, ”Los Gallos”, “El Folclor Vallenato”, ”Mi Pedazo de Acordeón”, and “Revolución en Marcha”.
  • The “stage” Compai Chipuco.
  • The Vallenato music groups and the Vallenato parties.
  • Fruit trees you´ll find in the city; mango, cañahuate, ceibas, robles, totumos, acacias, mamones, cotoprix, uvitos, cardamomos e innumerables cauchos.
  • The important indigenous population in the area such as Nabusimake.
  • Villages like La Paz, Patillal, Manaure Cesar, Pueblo Bello, Nabusimake
  • The savannah area of the Cesar department and visits to the mountain area of the “Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta”.
  • The “Coliseo Gallístico”.

Buy

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Supermarkets

  • Exito supermarket, two blocks away from the hostel, is a huge superstore offering everything from clothes to electrical articles to fresh fruit and veg.
  • Carrefour supermarket, in C.C. Guatapuri Plaza, is another huge superstore offering everything from clothes to electrical articles to fresh fruit and veg.
  • Olympica supermarket (calle 14 con Carrera 9.)
  • Mi Futuro supermarket: four blocks away from the hostel, is a local supermarket, good prices.
  • Market - There's a local market selling fresh produce, Plaza de Mercado ¨La Galeria¨

Shopping centers

  • Guatapurí Plaza (Av. Hurtado Diagonal 10 No. 6N-15)
  • Orbe Plaza (Carrera 9 con calle 12, esquina)

Eat

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Drink

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Discothèques

  • La Licorera: Carrera 9 # 9 - 36
  • Plaza Mayor: Carrera 6 #15-70, Plaza Alfonso López
  • La iguana: Carrera 9 #10-44
  • Kankurua: Calle 16a # 7 - 61

Coffee shops

  • Café Plaza Mayor: Good location and nice bar. Three music ambiances. (Carrera 6 #15-70, Plaza Alfonso López)
  • Juan Valdez: Guatapurí Plaza (Av. Hurtado Diag. 10 No. 6N-15)

Restaurants

  • Compae chipuco: Carrera 6ta con calle 16. Ask for "el almuerzo" at lunch and "menu del dia" it´s the cheap option.
  • Antore Pizza: Calle 12 Nro 17-46 Tel: (5) 573-3030
  • La Razón: Typical food. Carrera 6 Nro 11-03 Tel: (5) 584-6051
  • Jerusalem: Carrera 9 Nro 7c-29

Sleep

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  • Hotel Casablanca, Carrera 8 No. 17-61, +570 7242 - 570 9296. Clean but tiny and windowless rooms. Shower, TV and fan. Located in the center and close to the plaza Alfonso Lopez.

Connect

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Go next

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Private rooms and hostels are available in:

Manaure - 35km away. The temperatures are more pleasant as it's in the mountains 700m above sea level

Riohacha

Camarones

Tayrona National Park

Santa Marta


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